CACTUS.
HEART AND PULSE.
► *Increased
action of the heart, and on walking, pulsation in the chest with anxiety; lasts the whole
forenoon (first day), [5]. ► *Rapid, short, irregular beats of the heart, on rapid motion,
[6]. ► Several
violent, irregular beats of the heart, on slow walking, rising from a chair, turning
suddenly (fourth day), [6]. [200.]
► *Several violent, irregular beats of the heart, with
sensation of pressure and heaviness in the region of the heart (after one hour), [6]. ► Many violent beats
of the heart on walking the room slowly; with tightness of chest and deep breathing (second
day), [6]. ► The
beating of the heart and the pulsation of the chest were worse when lying on the back, more
perceptible and audible than when lying on the side, together with anxiety and restlessness
at night, [5]. ►
Violent palpitation and pulsation in the upper part of the chest, at night in bed (first
day), [5]. ► Fast
walking does not cause palpitation of the heart; on the other hand, it is brought on by a
rapid motion, such as suddenly stooping, or rising from a chair, as well as by any
excitement (first day), [6]. ►
The palpitation occurs very frequently during the day, and always at the commencement of any
motion whatever, such as stooping, rising, turning around; but walking for some time does
not bring it on; it is accompanied by an anxious sensation in the chest, rising into the
throat (second day), [6]. ►►
*Palpitation of the heart, continuous day and night,
worse when walking, and at night, when lying on the left side (first six days), [1]. ► Palpitation of the
heart, on standing and sitting; anxious sensation in the heart (after first day), [6]. ► Palpitation, and
feeling of oppression at the heart, on sitting, and lying in the evening, in bed, especially
when lying on the back, [6]. ►
*The palpitation of the heart consists of small, irregular beats, with necessity for deep
inspiration; slight excitement or deep thought is sufficient to produce this condition,
[6]. [210.] ► Nervous palpitation of the heart, augmented gradually on the
occurrence of the catamenia, [1]. ► Dull, heavy pains in the region of the heart, increased
by (external) pressure (second day), [1]. ►► *Sensation of constriction in the heart, as if an iron hand
prevented its normal movement (first ten days), [1].
► For a moment, just before going to his room to retire,
a slight drawing sensation in the region of the heart, [7].
► *Very acute pain, and such painful stitches in the heart as
to cause him to weep and to cry out loudly, with obstruction of the respiration
(first eight days), [1]. ►
Pricking pain in the heart, impeding respiration and the motion of the body
(fourth day), [1]. ►
Sensation of very annoying movement, from before backward, in the cardiac region, as if a
reptile were moving about in the interior; worse by day than by night (first ten days), [1]. ► On waking at
night, and changing position, the heart symptoms were felt, as in the daytime, [6]. ► The heart symptoms
are repeated very often to-day; when commencing to walk, they are often so violent that he
must stand still, and inspire deeply several times; this also occurs on ascending steps
quite slowly, and even on descending; so that the condition becomes somewhat annoying (third
day), [6]. ► Later
in the day, the heart-symptoms again appeared, several times very violently, so that he had
to stand still and inspire deeply, on which the heart’s action became quiet and he could go
on; this symptom was often noticed, also, on rising from a chair, etc.; and toward evening,
even a sudden movement while sitting, was sufficient to cause several violent, irregular
beats of the heart (fifth day), [6]. [220.] ► The pulse was hard
and sudden, without being frequent (first day), [5]. ► Pulse completely lost, for many days, in a man affected with
chronic hypertrophy of the heart; immediately after taking the remedy, the pulsation
returns, with an irregular rhythm, and intermitting, as before,
[1].
BACK AND EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL.
►
Pain in the lower part of the muscles of the back on the right side, extending into the
gluteals, in the morning before rising, continuing the whole day (third day), [5]. ► Toward evening, single
violent pains in the limbs appear, but soon cease (second day), [6]. ► Drawing in the fingers,
toes, knees, and ankles (fifth day), [6].
UPPER EXTREMITIES.
► After
retiring, and before going to sleep, a drawing pain, for ten or fifteen minutes, in the left
axilla and neighboring portion of the chest anteriorly, affecting the nerves, [7]. ► Sensation of great
constriction in the shoulders, so that he could not move (fifth day), [1]. ► Tearing in the left
shoulder-joint (6th dil.), (first day), [5]. ► Transient tearing pains in the joints, now in the shoulder,
now in the elbows, now in the fingers, for the most part on the right side (fourth day), [5]. ► Painful weariness
and heaviness of the arms (fifth and sixth days), [1].
[230.] ► Formication
and weight in the arms, which cannot be raised freely; worse in the left arm, [1]. ► Pain in the muscles of the
right upper arm, of the thorax, of the calves, of the soles of the feet, now and then during
the day (second day), [5]. ►
Numbness of the left arm, and troublesome pricking in the little finger (first night), [5]. ► Tearing through
the left arm (first day), [6]. ►
A drawing-tearing in the right arm, early in the morning, on waking, and lasting through the
forenoon; after rising, it extends into the right side (6th dil.), (second day), [4]. ► Œdema of the
hands, worse in the left, [1].
LOWER EXTREMITIES.
► Great
weariness and heaviness of the legs, and unusual sleepiness in the morning, on rising, after
a quiet sleep, lasting about two hours (second day), [2].
► Violent pain in the right knee, extending from the
knee-cap to the outer side of the leg; the slightest motion of the leg increased the pain;
it awoke him at night; lasted an hour (first night), [5].
► Pains in the knees and forehead, with necessity to
inspire deeply, and single, irregular beats of the heart (after one hour). ► (Œdema of the legs up to the knees; the skin is shining, and
pressure with the fingers leaves an impression for a long time), [1]. [240.] ►
(Œdema of the feet up to the inferior third of the legs, which soon goes off), [1]. ► Cramplike pain in
the sole of the right foot, several times during the day, when walking (3d dil.), (third and
fourth day), [3].
GENERALITIES.
► In the
evening, the muscles did not accurately obey the will, whether owing to defective vision or
other causes. Had noticeable ill-luck in performing accurately what he undertook in anything
requiring precision, either on account of perfect sight or execution. Played a game of
croquet very badly (second day), [7]. ► He cannot remain still when sitting; he throws his legs about
here and there involuntarily, [1]. ► For several days, marked restlessness, and haste in his
actions; he seemed to be too late everywhere, never to be in time, and always behindhand in
his business; at the same time, agitation at the heart, with feeling of oppression, [6]. ► General weakness,
so that he does not venture to speak, [1]. ► Great weakness for many successive days; he does not venture
to walk at all, [1]. ►
*Such great weakness, that he does not venture to do anything, not even to walk through the
room, [1]. ► General
weakness, with sadness and bad humor, [1]. ► Great corporeal depression; he does not trust himself to
stand on his feet, [1]. [250.]
► Great prostration of strength, so that he must
remain in bed, not feeling able to use his legs, [1]. ► General discomfort (fifth day), [5]. ► General malaise, and such
weakness as to be unable to rise from his seat, [1].
SKIN.
► Dry scaly herpes at
the outside of the right elbow, without itching, of one and a half inches in breadth
(thirtieth day), [1]. ►
A similar dry, scaly, herpetic eruption on the outside of the left elbow (after forty-eight
days), [1]. ► Dry
scaly herpes, two inches broad, on the left internal malleolus, without itching (after
twenty-four days), [1]. ►
A similar dry, scaly herpes on the right internal malleolus (after thirty-eight days), [1]. ► Every evening very
troublesome itching, like the stings of insects, on the chest and abdomen, compelling one to
rub; relieved in bed on going to sleep; it was not noticed during the day (third to sixth
day). The same itching appeared even during the day and disappeared at evening (two
provings), (first day), [2]. ►
Itching on the abdomen and on the calves in the evening on undressing (3d dil.), (second
day), [3]. ► Very
violent itching, causing him to scratch the lower part of the tibia (after twenty-one days),
[1]. [260.] ► Violent itching on the ankles (twentieth day), [1].
SLEEP AND DREAMS.
► Slept
well every night during the whole time of the proving, [8].
► Sleepiness as after severe illness (fifth day), [5]. ► Felt rather
drowsy, laid down early, and slept well all night with his clothes on (first day), [8]. ► At about daylight,
undressed himself, and went to sleep again (second day), [8].
► Awoke, feeling refreshed; in fact, better than usual
(second day), [7]. ►
Awoke, feeling splendidly (second day), [7]. ► Restless sleep at night (fifth day), [5]. ► The forepart of the night
sleepless on account of rush of ideas, afterwards restless sleep (second night), [5]. ► Interrupted sleep
at night; the next morning he feels fatigued, as if he had not slept at all (twentieth day),
[1]. [270.] ► He cannot sleep in the first hours of the evening, and when
then he falls asleep he awakens suddenly (first eight days), [1].
► Sleeplessness in the evening and at night, from
arterial pulsations in the scrobiculus and right ear (second night), [1]. ► Sleeplessness at night,
without apparent cause (first night), [1]. ► Protracted sleeplessness during forty-eight hours, with
pulsations in both ears (third day), [1]. ► Sleep disturbed by voluptuous dreams and painful erections
(first night), [5]. ►
Had an erotic dream, with emission of semen (second day), [8].
FEVER.
► Slight shivering,
which passes off quickly towards 2 P.M. (first day), [1].
► *General chilliness, so severe as to make the
teeth chatter, which lasts three hours, and does not go off, although he lies down, and
covers himself over with many blankets (first day), [1].
► Great chilliness towards ten in the evening (first
day), [1]. ► Great
coldness at night, which lasts half an hour (first day), [1].
[280.] ► *Coldness in the
back and icy-cold hands, which remained so for half an hour, although he took
warm soup, and his face and hands became hot (after two and a half hours), [6]. ► Burning heat, which causes
shortness of breath and madness, so that he cannot remain quiet in bed; this heat succeeds
the chill of three hours’ duration, and continues during twenty hours (first day), [1]. ► Scorching heat in
the course of the night, with much pain in the head, great dyspnœa, and inability to remain
lying (first day), [1]. ►
Great heat in the head, and heat of the face, as if he had been before a strong fire, which
causes madness and horrible anxiety (first day), [1]. ► Insupportable heat in the abdomen, as though something burned
him internally (after two days), [1]. ► Copious perspiration, which follows the hot stage (first
day), [1]. ► Slight
fever and pain in the head, which develops itself after a very short chill; it lasts but a
short time, and terminates with slight perspiration, at 4 P.M. (first day), [1]. ► *Quotidian intermittent fever,
which recurs every day at the same hour for many successive days. At 1 P.M., a
slight chill, then burning heat, dyspnœa, and very great pulsating pains in the uterine
region, terminating in very slight perspiration. From 11 P.M. till 12 A.M., the next day,
complete apyrexia (after thirteen days), [1].
CONDITIONS.
► Aggravation.
► (Morning), After
rising, pain in parietal bone; fetid breath; diarrhœa; early, on waking, tearing in right
arm. ► (Toward evening),
Priapism; pains in limbs. ► (Evening),
Anxiety; pain in left forehead; itching on chest, etc.; on undressing, itching on abdomen,
etc.; toward 10 o’clock, chilliness. ► (Night), Delirium; sensation in brain; pain in temples; cough in
bed, palpitation, etc.; when lying on left side, palpitation of heart; heart, etc. ► (Open air), Oppression of
breath. ► (Ascending stairs),
Short breathing; pain in chest. ► (After dinner), Pulsation of cœliac artery. ►
(Bright light), Pain in forehead; pain in right side of
head. ► (Lying on back),
Palpitation of heart, etc. ►
(Lying on back, with head touching pillow), Pain in
occiput. ► (On occurrence of
menstruation), Palpitation of heart. ► (Motion), Constriction in sternum;
palpitation of heart. ► (Rapid
motion), Palpitation of heart. ► (Moving head), Pain, etc.; in occiput. ►
(Noise), Pain in forehead; weight on vertex. ► (Periodical), Pain in
vertex; pains in umbilical region; pains in uterus,
etc.; attacks of suffocation; fever. ► (Pressure), Pain in
region of heart. ► (Raising head
from pillow), Pain in side of head. ► (Rising from chair), Beating of the heart. ►
(In room), Pressure in forehead. ►
(Sound of talking), Weight in vertex; pain in right side
of head. ► (Touch),
Pain in left breast. ► (Turning
suddenly), Beating of the heart. ► (Walking), Short breathing; oppression of breath; pain in chest; beating of the heart; palpitation of the heart; pain in right
sole. ► Amelioration. ►
(Inspiring fresh air), Is very reviving. ► (In bed), On going to
sleep, itching on chest, etc. ► (Bending
head backward), Drawing in occipital aponeurosis. ►
(Quick exercise), Pressure in occiput. ► (Deep inspiration),
Weight over the heart; [°] heart-symptoms. ► (Lying on side, so that occiput did
not touch anything), Pain in occiput. ► (Mental activity), Pressure in occiput. ►
(Pressure), Sensation in temple, etc.; pain on vertex. ► (Gently raising the part),
Pain in breast.
SUPPLEMENT: CACTUS.
Authorities.
10, Hahn.
Month., 11, 1876, p. 509, W. McGeorge and M. B. Tuller, Report of Bureau of Mat. Med. to
West Jersey Hom. Med. Soc.; 11, E. Clark, M.D., U. S.
Med. Invest., New Series, 11, 1879, p. 345. ► Sensation
of constriction of the heart, as if an iron band [Lippe in his Materia Medica and
translation of Rubini makes this word rend “hand” wile in allen’s Encyclopedia,
and Hale’s New Remedies, it is written “band.”] prevented its normal movements, [10]. ► I inhaled the
odor of recently prepared tincture, and immediately thereafter rode to see a patient. When I
had ridden a mile I had an uneasy sensation in my stomach like food difficult of digestion,
but soon after entering the sick-room thought no more of my stomach. Thirty minutes later
found it difficult to cross the sidewalk to enter my carriage. After ten minutes more the
vertigo had increased, there was stricture about the chest and stomach, pain in the heart
and head. Arrived home and threw myself on the sofa. Now there was violent vertigo, causing
me to stagger and reel; violent pain in the head, chest, and stomach; head felt full as if
there were congestion. Pressing pain in the head, like a great weight on the vertex,
pressing in the temples, pulsating in the temples, ears, and eyes, as if they would burst
outwards. Weakness of sight, objects were not seen clearly; intolerance of light and sound.
Tongue dry and coated, slime in the nares and throat, very thirsty, satisfied with small
quantity of water at one time. Profound nausea, lay for hours with my bowl near me, retching
many times, with copious discharge of mucus. Terrible pain in the stomach, with pressure
from without in; constriction of the scrobiculus, extending to the hypochondria, and as high
up the chest as the fifth rib, as if encircled by a hot iron cincture, having involuted
edges of an inch in size, pressing more and more, from hour to hour, till respiration was
most difficult and distressing. Some cough with much mucous expectoration, which greatly
aggravated my sufferings. Attacks of difficult respiration, amounting almost to suffocation,
with increasing hard and painful beating of the heart. The heart felt as if compressed
violently, and as violently struggled to burst its bands. Pulse very irregular; could not
suppress a groan, so great was my distress. At the same time severe pain in the spine, worse
in the lumbar region, pressing down the glutei muscles to the inferior extremities. Tearing
pains in the shoulders and arms; worse at first in the joints; after twenty-four hours worse
in long bones. These symptoms increased for about twelve hours. Ipecac. was used for the
nausea and the pain in the head; after several hours found no relief. Verat. vir. was taken
with like nil results. Camphor was used in drop doses
once in fifteen minutes for several hours, nil. A most
miserable night was passed, not a symptom disappeared; but the nausea was less distressing,
and the iron band was less distressingly close around me. The heart struggled less
violently; the tongue was coated thickly, whitish; thirst considerable; the pains in the
extremities remained unchanged. Three mushy motions from the bowels during the forenoon,
with pain. During The second day I took Bryonia for the pain in the head with some relief.
Night found me still in bed, unable to raise my head for vertigo; not a symptom had left its
quarters, only a little less violent. During the second night I had a few hours of disturbed
sleep, scared with dreams; awakened on the third morning somewhat refreshed, and was able to
leave my bed for a few hours. All my remedies having failed to relieve the bone pains in my
extremities, I now took Eupatorium perf., and was soon so far relieved that sleep came, to
my great comfort. The fourth morning found me relieved of all severe suffering, but well in
no part which had been seat of suffering. In about ten days the symptoms disappeared, and I
look back upon the horrors of those days of anguish as one escaped from the greatest danger.
I remained weak for several weeks, with frequent attacks of palpitations, [11].® 2000
Article